Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Billiken Invitational (Saint Louis)
MSU Golf Battles Wind, Finishes 3rd At Billiken Invitational
4/11/2006 5:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Murray State head golf coach Eddie Hunt said the afternoon wind that kicked up at Gateway National Golf Club in Madison, Ill. was impressive. As the Racers made the turn to the final nine holes Tuesday just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, they were suddenly battling wind.
"Those last nine holes were murder," Hunt said. "The teams that teed off in the first several groups didn't have to deal with it, but that's just the way golf is, sometimes the weather changes when you're in the middle of your round."
The Racers score of 304 was enough to keep them right where they began the final round, in third place. The Billiken Invitational marks the 11th consecutive finish in the top 10 for the Racers dating back to last fall. MSU has finished in the top-5 eight times in the same period.
The Racers third place showing of 895 was eight shots off the pace set by Western Illinois who came from eight shots down in the final 18 holes for the victory. The host squad, St. Louis University finished with a score of 888, one shot back of WIU.
Fellow Ohio Valley Conference members Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech were first and second going into the final round, but the Governors dropped to fourth with a 317 and the Golden Eagles finished seventh after a 318. Tennessee-Martin finished 12th with a final round of 304.
The layout at Gateway National played to 6,950 yards, one of the longest courses MSU has played this season. There were 80 players in the field of 14 teams.
Nick Griffin's even par 71 was the best score of the day for MSU, he finished tied for fourth with Scott Stallings of TTU with a total of 221. Will Cox fired a 73 and moved from 20th to sixth place, while Michael Craft shot an 83 and dropped from third to a tie for 19th. Jamie Frazier had a final round 77 and finished 54th. Mitchell Moore finished 60th after an 85. MSU had one player, Jerry Price playing as an individual. Price finished tied for 22nd after an 80.
The Racers attention now turns to competing in the OVC Championship April 23 at the Country Club of Paducah. This will be the fourth try at the league's top prize for MSU seniors, Will Cox, Kyle Shirley and Jamie Frazier. They have come tantalizingly close before but haven't been able to win. As freshmen in 2003, MSU finished third behind run-away winner Austin Peay, Cox finished fifth. MSU finished four shots behind Jacksonville State in second place in 2004, Shirley finished fourth individually. In 2005, the Racers again finished third, this time six shots behind champion Samford, Frazier held the lead some of the day, but finished second, one shot behind winner Bradley Farmer from Samford.
"This was a good event for us," Hunt said. "Maybe we have some momentum going into the OVC tournament."
